Lecture #1 The Context of Urban Politics in American Cities. Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson. Urban Politics. The Future of Urban America December 1, 2003

Transcription

1 Lecture #1 The Context of Urban Politics in American Cities Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson The Future of Urban America December 1, 2003 Urban Politics

2 In this discussion we will discuss the future of Urban America at the dawn of the 21 st century. Two America s One Left behind One Growing and Prospering

3 Continuing Emphasis on Economic Development From the 1960s through the 1980s cities were preoccupied with issues such as urban violence and riots, school busing, community control and fiscal crisis. In the late 1980s and 1990s, local concern for jobs and economic development came to preoccupy the local arena of cities. In the 1990s and the 2000s, urban politics is becoming increasingly identified with the issues of local economic growth and development.

4 Economic Development Continued Why the focus on economic development? Technological advances and globalization has exacerbated the intercity, interregional and international competition for business. Constraints on federal aid coupled with state tax revolts have given local governments little alternative but to fend for themselves by pursuing policies designed to attract and retain business. Outcome Intensified competition for economic development and business Soft skills development Quality of life concerns Uneven development

5 Increased Salience of Women s Issues Issues of women in the postindustrial city are dominated by an array of issues but are more acute among poor single mothers Welfare reform Housing Transportation (spatial mismatch) The clerical and service ghetto Child care Union protection and benefits Key: Job growth in the future will continue to be the greatest in the suburbs, where mass transit is not cost effective. It remains to be seen if the U.S. as a society is willing to take the step of helping the careless poor adjust to this transformation.

6 New Dominance of Suburbs The age of suburbanization continues unabated. Suburban populations and power dominate urban America. 80% of new job growth takes place in the suburbs Growing suburbs add political power Replication of central city downtowns Increased segregation in residential patterns

7 Future of Minority Empowerment The style of urban politics has changed over time. In the 1960s and 1970s, urban politics was dominated by issues of group identity, with fierce controversies over school busing, community control, and administration of antipoverty programs. In the mid 1970s and 1980s, the confrontation style politics of the previous era began to recede as urban events were over taken by the specter of urban fiscal crisis and the possible threat of municipal bankruptcy. The focus turned from political action to a more pragmatic concern for service delivery. By the 1990s as African Americans and Hispanics gained increased control of major cities, the militant rhetoric gave way for a new concern for jobs and economic development. And the building of coalitions along racial lines. Critics of this new style argue that this approach is essentially conservative in that the focus on narrow issues of service delivery to minority groups fail to challenge the prevailing power structure and the status quo.

8 Continued Racial districting and minority representation is crucial to minority empowerment The representation of racial minorities in national, state and local legislatures is often contingent upon districting plans designed to maximize the election of minorities. The active vigilance of minority groups is especially important during legislative redistricting to ensure that legislatures and courts draw district lines that maximize, rather than dilute, minority representation and voting power. However, there is a limit as to how far the court is willing to go in gerrymandering (Shaw v. Reno, 1993), Holder v. Hall, 1994), and Miller v. Johnson 1995.

9 Contract compliance and Affirmative action style programs that show preference towards race has been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court Impact case: 1989 City of Richmond v. Croson: The Supreme Court struck down A program that required 30% of the total dollar amount of municipal contracts be awarded to minority firms. When Blacks gained control of city hall a decade earlier, the minority set-aside program was one of the first measures the city council enacted. Before passage of the ordinance, Black firms had received less than 1% of the city s business despite the fact that Blacks accounted for over half the city s population. Outcome: In Richmond, only two firms actually benefited Strict scrutiny and disparity studies was a new standard set by the court Similar programs across the country was ended Affirmative action programs have lost popularity led by Proposition 209 in California

10 Future prospects for judicial decisions may depend upon the makeup of the court In the 1940s and 1950s, the Supreme Court was often the lead actor in the attack on racial segregation and inequality. In recent decades the Supreme Court has not been willing to support aggressive equalizing programs such as Inclusionary zoning, metropolitan school integration, and school finance reform

11 What is the State of Cities Many cities are still experiencing population decline, loss of middle-class families, slow job growth, income inequality, and poverty. Older suburbs are beginning to experience the problems of job loss, population decline, crime, and disinvestment previously associated only with the central cities. Many suburbs, including newer suburbs, are showing the strains of development patterns that create commuting problems, traffic congestion, and overcrowded schools and that rob communities of open space and other environmental treasures. The same sprawling growth pattern -- spread out developments that typically lack a community focal point -- results in underinvestment in our urban markets. This makes metro regions as a whole less competitive.

12 What are the Complementary Parts a Healthy Urban Community Housing Business Healthy Inner - City Communities Health Education

13 The Reality of the Situation Numerous public policy strategies could conceivably lessen local economic independence. Federal revenue sharing, metropolitan tax base sharing, strict land use regulation, and targeted economic development programs are all strategies that could leave cities in a less precarious position. The fact of the matter is that there is little WILL in the United States to enact such solutions on a widespread basis. The federal government for all intents and purposes is out of the business of cities and is not considering a return to revenue sharing or increased funding to cities. Suburbanites oppose tax base sharing with poorer jurisdictions and increased residential integration of poor minorities. The free market system objects to strong land use controls. And the power in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress is controlled by suburban power interests.

14 The Future of National Urban Policy Just what should be the federal government s response to urban problems? After a half century of federal action, there is no consensus when answering this question. Nothing short of a broad rethinking and comprehensive, holistic, coordinated action can be expected to reverse the process of urban decline. President Carter was the only President in U.S. history to attempt a national urban policy. The attempt is no longer possible, the time has passed The saga of city v. suburbs Public is convinced that big spending programs do not work What will it take to create support for a new broad scale, urban oriented policies? Sad to say, urban riots, and that may not be enough (i.e., LA riots and the limited response).

15 So what does the competitive city of the future look like? The city will contain offices, upscale retail stores, hotels, and restaurants while reducing the number of affordable and low-income housing. Former manufacturing areas will be designated as sites for future commercial development, their use as possible affordable housing sites ruled out. The construction of sport stadiums and convention centers and other high priced economic development projects will drive up housing prices in surrounding neighborhoods. In a tight housing market, private developers build for the well-off. And lastly, in the absence of strong municipal action, the housing needs of the poor, displaced manufacturing workers, and newly arrived immigrants are ignored.

16 Ten Tactical Decision for Cities in an Environment not Conducive to the Poor and Urban Policy Pursue universal & race neutral programs that spread program benefits Target when possible within universalism Emphasize family and a program s middle-class constituency Emphasize programs that ties benefits to participation in the workplace Focus on education, children & the elderly Build on programs with a demonstrated record of success Play to power symbols and sympathetic constituencies Pursue soft regionalism Pursue public-private partnerships for local economic development Utilize programs that work bottom-up through nonprofit and community organizations, not government

17 Dominant Issues in the Metropolitan Agenda In the immediate years ahead, four issues dominate the metropolitan agenda. How can each region compete economically? What developmental strategy, which infrastructure array, what educational investment, and which amenities will be most crucial? How should regions structure their space and what should they do to promote equity? What should metropolitan areas opt for spatially, and how will those decisions as well as other factors prevent an enlarged gulf between the haves and have-nots? How should metropolitan areas govern themselves? Is there a single approach which will work best for making regional decisions about the economy, land use, and equity as well as other matters? Or does each metropolis need to evolve a method which best fits its own needs?

18 What should metropolitan areas do to maintain and enhance its economic competitiveness Eight characteristics to enhancing regional competitiveness in the external metropolitan chase Smart Global Nimble Digital Technological Capital Cooperative Entertaining

19 Continued Three characteristics to enhancing regional competitiveness in the internal metropolitan chase Structuring space Promoting equity Regional governance

20 Cities in the Next Century At the present time, American cities are in the mist of a technological revolution driven largely by advances in transportation and communication is changing the way American live and work. Perhaps the biggest change now taking place is that automobiles, airplanes, telephones and computer networks make most places accessible over ever greater distances. At the same time, the geographic location of labor and capital has come to mean less as firms and industries, scattered at different sites, use information technologies to coordinate the production and distribution of goods. This is happening on a national as well as a global level involving cities and regions located far apart in distant places.

21 By allowing communications to take place with no regard for distance, business organizations that are thousands of miles away are able to close old industries or open new ones; they can shift thousands of workers from one location to another; and, with a flick of a switch, they can transfer huge investments instantaneously anywhere in the world. Taking advantage of their new found mobility, many firms and even whole industries now have the capacity to locate wherever they want. This results in fierce competition among cities to attract jobs and investment; and while some cities succeed and become winners, others struggle as losers, and still others accept their status as mere survivors This restructuring of the national economy serves as the context for understanding the changing roles of cities.

22 Restructuring and City Types Seven (7) types of cities Headquarters Cities (5 tiers) Innovation centers (R&D focus) Module Production Places (No control of own destiny) Border Cities (Trading Centers) Retirement centers (Reliant on SSI and Pensions) Leisure-Tourist Playgrounds (Disengagement from communities) Edge Cities (Self sustaining entities on the edge)

23 Key Terms and Concepts Continuing emphasis of economic development Soft skills Uneven development Quality of life concerns Dual City Gerrymandering The future of urban policy City of Richmond V. Croson The reality of the situation Ten tactical decisions for cities Healthy components of urban communities

24 Lecture #1 The Context of Urban Politics in American Cities Dr. Eric Anthony Johnson Looking Ahead, The Future of Urban America December 3, 2003 Urban Politics